Integrated spatial approach for disaster mitigation in Sri Lanka with an emphasis on landslides

Abstract:

Over the past two decades various types of disasters have struck Sri Lanka and the likelihood of recurrence of disasters like floods,droughts and landslides are on the increase. Occurrence of landslides in Sri Lanka has become a frequent phenomenon. It is estimated that there are about 12,500 square kilometers in the island prone to landslides which is one sixth of the total land extent of the country. This devastation brings several deaths, livelihood and destruction to properties, as well as undermines the decades of development gained by the country. According to Sri Lanka Urban Multi Hazard Disaster Mitigation Project (SLUMDMP), 2003 indicates that the preventing of landslides is less costly than of redress of post event damages. Landslides occur due to many natural reasons such as geology, geomorphology, hydrology, climate, and soil condition etc of those regions. It is further aggravated due to population increase, human settlement expansion, infrastructure projects; land use changes etc. Once traced back of the history of landslides it has revealed that inefficiencv and ineffective land use decisions have aggravated them.